diff --git a/res/layout/assistant_new_badge.xml b/res/layout/assistant_new_badge.xml
index 6ca8cc5..21b5297 100644
--- a/res/layout/assistant_new_badge.xml
+++ b/res/layout/assistant_new_badge.xml
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
     android:paddingBottom="@dimen/nav_new_badge_vertical_pad"
     android:background="@drawable/new_badge_background"
     android:textSize="@dimen/nav_new_badge_font_size"
+    android:textStyle="bold"
     android:textAllCaps="true"
-    android:textColor="#FFFFFF"
+    android:textColor="@android:color/white"
     android:text="@string/menu_assistant_new_badge"/>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/com/android/contacts/ContactsDrawerActivity.java b/src/com/android/contacts/ContactsDrawerActivity.java
index 29ac4f8..a56ce0d 100644
--- a/src/com/android/contacts/ContactsDrawerActivity.java
+++ b/src/com/android/contacts/ContactsDrawerActivity.java
@@ -141,7 +141,6 @@
             // overlaid by the action bar of the newly-created fragment.
             stopSearchAndSelection();
             updateStatusBarBackground();
-            initializeAssistantNewBadge();
         }
 
         private void stopSearchAndSelection() {
@@ -184,6 +183,7 @@
                 mRunnable.run();
                 mRunnable = null;
             }
+            initializeAssistantNewBadge();
         }
 
         public void runWhenIdle(Runnable runnable) {
@@ -264,7 +264,8 @@
     }
 
     private void initializeAssistantNewBadge() {
-        if (!Flags.getInstance().getBoolean(Experiments.ASSISTANT)) {
+        if (!Flags.getInstance().getBoolean(Experiments.ASSISTANT)
+                || mNavigationView == null) {
             return;
         }
         final LinearLayout newBadgeFrame = (LinearLayout) MenuItemCompat.getActionView(